Our Destinations

Switzerland

Switzerland conjures up a fair amount of clichés:  irresistible chocolates, kitsch clocks, yodeling Heidi's, humorless bankers, international bureaucracies and an orderly and rather bland national persona. However, the Swiss have won more Nobel Prizes and registered more patents per capita than any other nation on earth. It may be neutral, but it is certainly not flavorless. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country’s Alpine landscapes have enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveler. 

The untamed majesty of the Alps and the tidy, just-so precision of Swiss towns prevent Switzerland from ever being one-dimensional. The sheer beauty of the country, its mountains, breathtaking scenery, cog wheels and scenic trains through the majestic mountains, make it one of the most memorable places to visit, even to the most well-traveled.

The highlight of Carpenter's trip is a Glacier Express train adventure across the Oberalp Pass and through the upper Rhine valley. There's no better way to experience the magnificence of the Swiss Alps.

Extension to Northern Italy

Northern Italy is a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. Sophisticated cities are only a stone's throw away from aristocratic villas and charming gardens. When Carpenter visits in the fall, this area will be ablaze with tropical flowers. 

Lake Como is Italy's most famous lake and has been a popular travel destination since Roman times. Nestled between mountains and hills, the lake commands a beautiful setting between Milan and Switzerland and is in the area of northern Italy known as the Lake District. Lake Como is a great travel destination for outdoor activities, photography, romance, relaxation and home to some of the most impressive food in Italy.

Como is a lively and pleasant town with an appealing historical centre and a scenic location at the southern end of the east branch of Lake Como. The impressive cathedral (Duomo), like most in Italy, was built and added to over a period of centuries, so you can admire Gothic and Renaissance features including some fine tapestries and paintings. The town's earlier cathedral (built in the tenth century), San Fedele, is another fine sight, as are the tall nine-hundred-year-old gateway, Porta Vittoria, and the Romanesque church Sant'Abbondio. The town's art gallery (Pinacoteca) is also worth a visit.